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Camp Bucca detainee abuse hearing begins

An Article 32 hearing began Wednesday for a chief petty officer accused of mistreating detainees at Camp Bucca, Iraq, in May.

The chief, Aviation Structural Mechanic Tracy Necaise, 43, is charged with conspiracy, cruelty and maltreatment and making false official statements, Navy records show.

The hearing is scheduled to last four days at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla. An Article 32 is the military equivalent of a civilian grand jury inquiry to determine whether there is enough evidence to take the case to trial.

The hearing suggests Navy officials think the case may warrant a general court-martial, with felony-level charges carrying more than a year in the brig and a dishonorable discharge.

In related cases, four junior sailors are facing a special court-martial, an intermediate-level trial that carries a maximum punishment of one year confinement and a bad conduct discharge.

Each is accused of conspiracy, cruelty and maltreatment, lying and assault, Navy records show.

Three of the sailors appeared in court Wednesday and pleaded not guilty. They were: Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Trevor C. Slane, Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Jonathan S. Armstrong and Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Thomas V. Broadway. Their trials will likely be scheduled for early next year.

The fourth sailor, Damage Controlman 2nd Class Adam M. White, is scheduled to be arraigned and tried on Friday.

A total of 10 detainees were mistreated in the May 14 incident. Two detainees suffered abrasions, and eight others were locked overnight in a detention cell with no ventilation that was filled with pepper spray, Navy officials said.

Cmdr. Jane Campbell, spokeswoman for Naval Forces Central Command, has said the sailors were a mix of active duty and reserve with limited law enforcement experience.

The abuse occurred on a “day of unrest at the camp” when detainees allegedly spat and threw feces and urine on their jailors, Campbell told Navy Times in August.

Jeremiah Sullivan, Necaise’s attorney, has said that upper-level Navy officers were ultimately to blame for the incident because they assigned the sailors to Camp Bucca without any prior experience working in law enforcement or detention facilities.

Although the alleged crimes occurred in Iraq and the case’s convening authority is 5th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. William Gortney, the Navy decided to hold the legal proceedings in Jacksonville for logistical reasons, said Cmdr. Dan Bates, a Navy spokesman.

A total of 13 sailors were accused in the abuse. One was convicted at summary court-martial in August and was given 18 days’ confinement.

Seven others went to mast for failing to report the alleged assaults, Navy officials said. One of the seven taken to mast was a lieutenant; the other six were enlisted. Of them, five faced punishments ranging from reduction in rank, suspended reductions in rank, fines, extra duty or restriction. Two had charges dropped.

Twelve of the sailors implicated were part of Navy Provisional Detainee Battalion 4; the last sailor belonged to NPDB 1.

Related reading

• Hearing postponed for chief accused of abuse (Sept. 4)

• 6 sailors charged with detainee abuse in Iraq (Aug. 14)